Detection of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis lesions by real-time PCR

Objectives: Recent studies have investigated the occurrence of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus in samples from apical periodontitis lesions and a role in the pathogenesis of this disease has been suggested. Because genotype distribution and seroprevalence of EBV and HCMV differ among populations, it is important to determine the presence of these viruses in endodontic periapical lesions of different populations. The aims of this study were to determine the presence of HCMV and EBV DNAs in samples from Turkish patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis lesions using real-time polymerase chain reaction method and to evaluate their presence in both symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis lesions. Study Design: Periapical samples were collected from 12 asymptomatic and 16 symptomatic periapical lesions in conjunction with apicectomy. HCMV and EBV DNAs were identified in the samples by real-time PCR. The chi- squared test with Yates's correction or the Fisher's exact test was used to analyse the significance of differences. Results: HCMV DNA was detected in 10 of the 16 (62.5%) symptomatic and in five of the 12 (41.7 %) asymptomatic periapical study lesions. The EBV DNA was identified in seven of the 16 (43.7 %) symptomatic and three of the 12 (25 %) asymptomatic periapical lesions. The difference in occurrence of HCMV and EBV DNA between symptomatic and asymptomatic periapical lesions was not statistically significant. (All comparisons have p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HCMV and EBV is a frequent inhabitant of both symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis lesions of endodontic origin in Turkish population

Analysis of Enterococcus faecalis in samples from Turkish patients with primary endodontic infections and failed endodontic treatment by real-time PCR SYBR green method

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate the presence of Enterococcus faecalis in primary endodontic infections and failed endodontic treatments using real-time PCR and to determine the statistical importance of the presence of E. faecalis in a Turkish population with endodontic infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: E. faecalis was investigated from 79 microbial samples collected from patients who were treated at the Endodontic Clinic of the Dental School of Atatürk University (Erzurum, Turkey). Microbial samples were taken from 43 patients (Group 1) with failed endodontic treatments and 36 patients (Group 2) with chronic apical periodontitis (primary endodontic infections). DNA was extracted from the samples by using a QIAamp® DNA mini-kit and analyzed with real-time PCR SYBR Green. RESULTS: E. faecalis was detected in 41 out of 79 patients, suggesting that it exists in not less than 61% of all endodontic infections when the proportion test (z= -1.645

Herpesviral and “Red Complex” Bacterial Analysis of Acute Apical Abscesses

Introduction: To investigate the possible association between presence of Epstein–Barr virus, human cytomegalovirus and three endodontic bacterial pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia) “red complex” in samples from patients with acute apical abscesses using real-time PCR.Methods: Periapical samples were collected from 18 acute apical abscess specimens and 6 control samples. The apical area of each study tooth was examined in periapical radiographs obtained using a long cone paralleling technique. The study included only single-rooted teeth that had carious lesions, necrotic pulps, and radiographic evidence of periradicular bone loss. No apparent communication from the abscess to the oral cavity or skin surface was observed. DNA extracts from purulent exudate aspirates of acute apical abscess and six control samples were evaluated for the presence of microbial and viral loads using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) following the kit protocols recommended by the manufacturers. The chi squared test was used for statistical analysis.Results: HCMV, EBV, T. denticola, P. gingivalis, and T. forsythia were detected in 16.7 %, 5.6 %, 44.4 %, 27.7 %, and 22.2 % of the samples, respectively. As for the healthy pulps used as noninflamed controls, no control specimens contained bacterial or viral DNA. The pair HCMV/ T. denticola and HCMV/ T. forsythia was detected in one case. The association between HCMV, T denticola and T. forsythia was not statistically significant.Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, our PCR based findings revealed that in “red complex” bacteria, T. denticola and T. forsythia tended to occur in co-infection with HCMV.</p

Detection of herpesviruses and human papillomavirus in acute apical abscesses by real-time PCR

The present viral findings may have future therapeutic relevance for periapical abscesses and other periapical pathosis